Luminous covering.



PATENTED OCT. 2, 1906.

M. c. FRANK. V LUMINOUS COVERING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11.1905.

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W/r/viisiszlst ITNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Oct. 2, 1906.

Anplioation filed Kay 11, 1905. Serial No. 280,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAXWELL C. FaANK, a citize'n of the' United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luminous Coverings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates enerally to means for rendering objects luminous and visible in the dark or in dark situations, and more particularly to an appliance for rendering such objects as electric switch-handles, gas-cocks, and like handles visible under such conditions.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient attachment in the na ture of a luminous cap or cover which can be made and sold as a separate article of manu facture and can be easily and conveniently applied to such handles by any person, however unskilled.

M invention therefore differs from those in w 'ch the object is to provide structures which are in themselves luminous, and so involve special rocesses and means in their production. he advantage of a cheap and sim le luminous attachment which can be easi y applied to articles of ordinary construction and which can be easily replaced when necessary is immediately apparent.

My invention being especially applicable to the class of articles referred to is hereinafter described in connection with them, and

embodiments of it in several forms are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a vlew of an incandescent electric lamp attached to a wall-socket and having its switch-handle provided with one of my attachments. Fig. 2 is a separate view of a switch-handle, partly in section, with one of my caps or covers in position. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of my covers ready to be bent to inclose a switch-handle or gascook. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the same cover bent. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a complete inclosing cap for the same purpose. Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section of one of my covers, which might be either the cover of Fig. 4 or the cap of Fig. 5.- Fig. 7 shows my cap as applied to a Wall-switch. Figi 8 shows its application to a wall-switch.

eferring to Fig. 1, an ordinary electric lamp 1 is shown attached to the wall-socket 2. The switch 3 has the usual handle 4, constructed of any suitable material, such as hard rubber. Such a switch and handle are also shown in Fig. 2.. To this handle is attached acap or cover constructed according to my'invention. I have shown two differentfstylsone being simply a cover or partial ca ""g'afiil the other a com lete inclosing cap.

, n'Fi a blank 5 is s own, which 1s cut,

stampe or formed from any suitable transparent or translucent material, among which may be mentioned mica, celluloid, tracingcloth, and oiled silk. This blank is rendered luminous and the luminous material protected in the manner shown in Fig. 6, in which the different layers which form the complete articleare considerably exa gerated for the sake of clearness in illustratlon. The translucent material 5 is covered on one side, as

shown at 6, with any suitable luminous paint nous composition a protective layer 7, which I may be of any suitable material, such as an asbestos composition the latter being not only a protector for the composition, but also for the cover itself should such material as celluloid be used for it. Upon the ive cover I then spread a layer of gum-arabic, glue, dextrin, or the like which becomes adhesive when moistened. The cover shown in Fig. 3 when bent as'in Fig. 4 and rendered adhesive by moistening the adhesive substance can be fitted to the switch, gascook, or other handle, as shown in Fi 1. Theedges of the blank may be recesse as shown at 8, to facilitate its accurate bending. Such blanks can be made very cheaply in quantities and sold in lots ready for immediate use. They can be made in many different sha es and sizes to fit different standard handles, but it is evident that a perfect fit is not absolutely essential so long as a neat external a pearance is preserved, the objectbeing on y to present suflicient luminous surface to show the position of the handle in darkness.

In Figs. 5, 7, and 8 the principle of my invention is embodied in complete hollow caps or sockets 10, which are slipped over the handles and are held in place either by the closeness of their fit or by adhesive material applied to the whole interior or to some part of it, such as the projections 9. In 7 the cap is of special form to fit a well-known acorn-shaped pull-handle switch. In Fi 8 such a cap is shown as applies to a wall switch. Where complete caps are used, they no protectmay be constructed of thin glass, as well as ofother materials before mentloned, which are more or less flexible. In some cases it is desirable to afford the luminous composition a base for adhesion to the surface of the cover, and I therefore prefer to provide the inner surfaceof the cover, before the luminous composition is applied, with a coating of transparent varnish, shellac, lacquer, or the like to which such com osition will adhere.

Having thus escribed my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a switch-handle, of a transparent ca covering said handle and held thereon by iction, said cap having a lining of luminous material placed on the inside surface of said described.

2. A cap made from transparent material consisting of two-flat parts 5 connected by a narrow neck 8, said neck being bent to bring the parts 5 opposite each other, a coating of luminous material on the opposing surfaces of sa1d parts 5 and a protecting-covering for said coating and an adhesive coating on said protecting-cove In testimony arl iereof- I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, thlS 2 day of May, 1905.

v MAXWELL C. FRANK.- Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY, M. R. SEELY.

cap, substantially as 

